Halloween Spooktacular!

Halloween will never be the same now that we have discovered how fun the Jacksonville Zoo's Halloween Spooktacular is!  We should have been going there for years!  Even with literally hundreds of people there--every ghost and goblin in half of Jacksonville--it was soooo worth going to the event!  (Do I sound like a friend of the zoo--well, I am!)

We brought along Iron Man and Batman to protect us . . .

(aka Isaac and Garrett . . .)

Lola gave a thumb up (only one thumb, hah!) that she was ready!

But the first family picture we took, she was scared of the Halloween Princess.  I thought we were in trouble for sure! 

But soon we were all mesmerized by the lights, the action, and all the fun . . . including Lola!

George is certainly not saying "Number One" by any stretch of the imagination--we were just so thrilled that the Gators pulled out a win this week--especially against Georgia!

And, as promised, Cassie--a TIGER in the Jacksonville Zoo!

This was Lola's first merry-go-round ride . . . she held on soooo tight--but she loved it!

Garrett just had to ride on the eagle.  He has just drawn an eagle which seriously looks just like this one!

And Lola's first time in a bounce house--at first, she wasn't sure what to do . . .

But was soon having the time of her life!

But the eeriest of all still has to be . . .

Those gator eyes shining in the moonlight!

Circling down below.

Yes, the Spooktacular was indeed Spectacular!!

Weekends are the Best!

Maybe it's the fact that when you work, you always look forward to the weekends.  I certainly do--because then it's family time, which I love.  Don't get me wrong!  I love my job--but being with my family is the best! 

A week ago, George and I went to Orlando on Friday after school and did temple work on Friday evening.  Then we stayed all night in a hotel in Orlando, and went back to the temple the next morning.  It felt so good to be in the temple.  I just wish we could go more often. 

George, also, met with the stake presidents, the temple president, and the area seventy in his capacity as local area auditor trainer for the church.  So, we accomplished so much in the weekend, plus we had a great time, too. 

This weekend began on Friday with the Clay County Health Fair.  Sheila Gann and her committee did such a marvelous job of putting together so many great sponsors and asked if Amy and Alison would like a booth there.  Amy said they would love to!  Since Alison is in China, she made sure Amy had everything she needed, and Amy got everything organized. 

The booth was a huge success! 

Hey, there's a familiar person we know!  Some of our best customers are the ladies in our ward!

Amy and I literally kept running from 7:00  to 1:00 p.m.  We didn't even have time to eat lunch!  (Cassie, notice the pants!)

We really appreciated George.  He helped set up and take down.  He's becoming a pro!

Then on Saturday evening, we had our Fleming Island First Ward Fall Festival.  After a yummy dinner of soups, pumpkin pies, etc., the party began! 

Lola looked so adorable in her little dress which we had seen on-line from my niece, Jennifer Anderson's website.  We knew we just had to have one for Lola! 

Lola with her mommy. 

This is how we decorated our trunk.  It is a yearly tradition for me to do the decorating, but for George to hand out the candy.  (I'm not really that original on the decorating, but the kids seem to like it!)

George is known as "The Candy Man" by the kids at church.  He loves it!

The trunk-or-treat part is always so fun. While I was taking the picture of Amy and the two kids, Lola was more interested in the candy!

Isaac was over jumping in one of the bounce houses. 

Lola with her daddy. 

Jeff and Amy's family.  By this time, Lola was sick of pictures--and actually just plain sick.  She went home with a fever and vomiting.  Poor little girl!  We didn't realize she didn't really feel that well! 

But she was so cute to stand still enough to take one last picture . . .

And get her binky for comfort, but then just wanted to go home!

Like I said, great two weekends with family!  George and I just wish we could be there to see all of our grandkids having fun!  It really is the best!